A teacher and principal for 30 years, Jim Linsell has distinguished himself as an educator of remarkable ability and creativity, who has made subject matter knowledge and student achievement the hallmarks of his teaching. Linsell is a sixth-grade teacher at Easter Elementary School in Traverse City, Mich.

For his excellence in the classroom, Linsell was honored by the Michigan Department of Education as the state's Teacher of the Year in 2001. He spent the 2001-2001 academic year traversing the state as teacher of the Year and working at the state Department of Education. During that year, he focused his efforts on ways to recruit and retain quality teachers, and has become an ardent advocate for such things as mentoring and professional development opportunities for new teachers. A beloved teacher in the Traverse City Area Public Schools, Linsell has structured the learning of his students in a way that enables them to demonstrate what they know and make their thinking visible.

Linsell began his career in the classroom in 1974 at Catholic Central High School in Lansing. In 1977, he joined the Traverse City Area Public Schools and has taught fifth and sixth grades. He was a principal in the district for seven years, and currently serves as the district support specialist for professional development and new teacher program, overseeing the activities of more than 75 first-, second-, and third-year teachers. In addition, he is the Michigan representative to the North Central Regional Education Laboratory. Awards for his Commerce's Outstanding Educator Award and listing in the 2004 "Who's Who Among American's Teacher."

He has a bachelor's degree from MSU (1973) and master's degree from the University of Chicago (1977).